# Askeran fortress

- **Country:** Azerbaijan
- **Year Built:** 1751
- **Location Text:** Khankendi

Askeran Fortress, also known historically as Mayraberd, is a significant military installation located in the town of Askeran within the Khojaly District of Azerbaijan. Situated on the banks of the Qarqar River in a gorge of the Karabakh mountains, the structure spans over 1.5 kilometers along the river valley. While a fortress and Armenian village existed on this site during the Middle Ages, the current cobblestone structure was primarily constructed between 1788 and 1789. This expansion was commissioned by Panah Ali Khan of the Karabakh Khanate to protect the eastern frontier of the Melikdom of Varanda. The architecture features a distinctive rounded plan with double stone walls that are approximately two meters thick and nine meters tall, interconnected by limestone towers that served as strategic observation posts.

The fortress holds considerable historical importance due to its role in regional conflicts and diplomacy. In 1795, it was captured by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar during his campaign to restore Iranian rule in the Caucasus. Later, during the Russo-Persian War of the early 19th century, the site served as a Russian encampment and hosted critical peace talks between Russian and Persian representatives in 1810. These events mark the location as a pivotal point in the struggle for control over the southeastern Caucasus during the transition from Persian to Russian influence.

In recent years, efforts have been made to preserve this historical monument for future generations. During 2018, extensive restoration work was undertaken on the walls and towers to stabilize the structure and enhance its appeal as a tourist destination. Today, the fortress stands as a testament to 18th-century military engineering and the complex geopolitical history of the region. Its imposing double walls and strategic placement within the mountainous terrain continue to offer visitors a tangible connection to the past, serving both as a protected heritage site and a place of cultural interest.

![Photo of Askeran fortress](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/%D4%B1%D5%BD%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AB_%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A2%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A410.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askeran_fortress (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)